Music, world-renowned barbeque and more music are just a few of the attractions in store for TechAdvantage 2003 attendees. Slated to be held February 26 to March 3, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., TechAdvantage 2003 bills itself as the only utility industry conference and trade show exclusively for electric cooperative network management, engineering and operations, information services and technology, and purchasing employees.

New and improved, TechAdvantage 2003 is built around three disciplines that are considered the co-ops “hub” — engineering and operations, information technology (IT) and supply management.

Conference

The TechAdvantage Conference will be held February 26 to March 1, at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Promising “information overload” — including door prizes and food events — the conference will offer attendees a variety of specific topics both in general sessions and in breakout sessions.

Whether a visitor's discipline is engineering and operations, information services and technology, or supply management, he or she can join colleagues from across the nation to find out what's new, who's doing what and why. In addition, attendees can find solutions, work together on specific concerns and turn problems into opportunities. Shuttle transportation to/from the Loews Vanderbilt and Holiday Inn Select Vanderbilt will begin Friday, February 28, with complete schedules posted in the lobby of each hotel.

Exposition

The Nashville Convention Center is the site of this year's TechAdvantage Expo. The expo will take place February 28 to March 3, and gives conference attendees the opportunity to view exhibits presenting state-of-the-art products and services that they can use in the daily operation of their cooperative. The show attracts more than 225 exhibiting companies who occupy approximately 55,000 net sq. ft.

Tech Day

Tech Day, scheduled for Sunday, March 2, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Suites Nashville Downtown, is a half-day educational program held in conjunction with the TechAdvantage Expo. These 25-minute technical sessions by exhibitors are designed to give cooperative professionals the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in utility products and services and to provide a forum for development of strategic alliances and partnerships between co-ops and suppliers. More details are expected to follow.

New for 2003

In keeping with the times, IT has come to TechAdvantage. Beginning in 2003, the NRECA's (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) IT conference is merging into TechAdvantage as a third track, joining engineering and operations, and supply management. In addition to having its own program, the NRECA conference will offer several workshop sessions. Conference participants are encouraged to create a conference program experience that best suits their needs.

Don't Miss It

TechAdvantage 2003 will give attendees leading-edge developments, an “outside” perspective and provide them with tools they can take home and use at their co-op. In addition, TechAdvantage will provide a network that can be used after the show ends.

Technology is the bridge to the future. Take “advantage” of TechAdvantage 2003.

TechAdvantage 2003 Conference Program

Wednesday, February 26

PreConference Workshops

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

A. Certified Purchasing Manager Review — Modules 1, 2

B. Materials Management Certification Award Program, Unit II

C. Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan Regulations Review

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. D. Saturn Plant Tour (limit 60 people)

Thursday, February 27

Opening General Session and Track Workshops

7:00 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 11:30 a.m. (15-minute break at 10:00)

Opening General Session — All Attendees Welcome

Opening Remarks, Industry Discussion

Address of NRECA CEO

Solon Bennett Award Presentation

Keynote Address — Chip Eichelberger, “Igniting Team Spirit — Unleashing Peak Performance”

11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 - 5:00 p.m. (15-minute break at 2:30)

Engineering & Operations, Supply Management, Information Technology Concurrent Workshop Sessions

Engineering & Operations

• E&O Community Cooperative.com presentation
• T&D Committee Report
• Restructuring Update from a T&D Focus
• Peer-to-Peer Forums

Supply Management

• Value of Education in Supply Chain Management
• Institute of Supply Management Update
• Forums by Co-op Size

Information Technology

• Security & Disaster Recovery Panel Discussion

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. “Country Roads” Reception sponsored by the Cooperative Research Network®

Friday, February 28

7:00 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Noon (15-minute break at 9:30)

Engineering & Operations, Supply Management, Information Technology Concurrent Workshop Sessions

Engineering & Operations

• Power Quality 1 — How and Where to Measure
• Transformer Connections
• Distribution Automation
• Outage Management
• Power Quality 2 — Doing a Power-Quality Survey for a Key Member
• Getting More Out of Your System
• Computers and PDAs in the Field
• Interconnection Metering

Supply Management

• Scheduling 101 — Lead Time Essentials
• Storage 102 — Proven and Effective Immediate Warehousing Strategies
• Storage 103 — Advanced Stores Capacity Planning, Control, Automation
• Storage 101 — Warehousing FUNdamentals
• Value 102 — Intermediate Supply Chain Value Analysis
• Scheduling 103 — Enhancement Through Advanced Scheduling Applications
• ISM-CU 10th Annual Meeting

Information Technology

Scheduled to be announced

Noon - 1:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (15-minute break at 2:45) Engineering & Operations, Supply Management, Information Technology Concurrent Workshop Sessions

Engineering & Operations

• Stretching Your Maintenance Dollar
• Distribution Automation
• Outage Management
• Sectionalizing and Fault Currents
• Power Quality 3 — Benchmarking
• Living Through the BIG One — Disaster Management

Supply Management

• Value 101 — Value Added Elements of the Professional Supply Chain Process
• Scheduling 102 — Intermediate Lead Time — Outsmarting the Calendar
• E-Procurement 101 — Initial Assessment, Risks and Rewards of Common e-Commerce Practices
• E-Procurement 102 — Legal Issues — When You're Out There, Play it Safe
• Value 103 — Benchmarking and Advanced Quantitative Supply Chain Value Determinators

Information Technology

Schedule to be announced

4:30 - 7:30 p.m. TechAdvantage Expo Opens

Gala Grand Opening Reception at 5:30 sponsored by TWACs by DCSI

Saturday, March 1

7:00 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast

8:00 - 10:20 a.m. Engineering & Operations, Supply Management, Information Technology Concurrent Workshop Sessions

Engineering & Operations

• Securing Your Cooperative Infrastructure

Supply Management

• E-Procurement 103 — Advanced Methodologies and the Technology Driving Them
• Vendor Alliances

Information Technology

Schedule to be announced

10:30 - Noon Closing General Session — All Attendees

Keynote Address — Barry Wishner, “The Power to Get Stuff Done”

Noon - 5:00 p.m. TechAdvantage Expo, Nashville Convention Center

Sunday, March 2

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tech Day, Hilton Suites Nashville Hotel

11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. TechAdvantage Expo Nashville Convention Center
Lunch available for purchase.
Afternoon refreshment break sponsored by Hunt Technologies

Monday, March 3

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. TechAdvantage Expo Nashville Convention Center

TechAdvantage 2003 Exhibitor List

ABB Power T&D Co.
ACES Power Marketing
ACS Government Services Inc.
Aerotec, LLC
AES-Intellinet
Advanced Control Systems
Altec Industries Inc.
Amistad Fiberglass Co. Inc.
Applied Technology Solutions (ATS)
Arch Wood Protection
Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc.
ARNCO Corp.
Art Advertising Inc.
Atmos Power Systems
Asplundh Tree Expert Co.
Beckwith Electric Co.
Bermex Inc.
Beta Engineering
Bombardier Utility Vehicles
Bridges Electric Inc.
C.H. Guernsey & Co.
Cable Constructors Inc.
Cannon Technologies Inc.
Caremark Inc.
Carlton Industries LP
Cass County Electric Cooperative
Caterpillar Inc.
Central Service Association
CEVA Energy
Chapel Mapping
Chapman Metering, LLC
CIS Conference Inc.
Clough Harbour & Assoc. LLP
Cognicase-CYME
Coleman Powermate
Cooperative Response Center
Comsquared Systems
Crosslink Technology Inc.
Cummins Onan Power Generation
Currin Energy Page
Daffron & Associates Inc.
Datamatic
dataVoice International Inc.
Datamatic
Davey Resource Group
DCAS Software Solutions Inc.
DeAngelo Brothers Inc.
DIS-TRAN
Doble Engineering Co.
Document Imaging Solutions Inc.
Dominion
Double-LL Distributing, LLC
DTE Energy Technologies
DuPont Vegetation Management
ECO — Energy Co-Opportunity
ei Bottled Water
Electric Energy Publications
Electric Power Engineers
Energy Alternatives
EnerVision Inc.
Environmental Protection Services
Envision Utility Software Corp.
ERMCO
ESRI
EUDA/GRESCO
ExpressBill
G&W Electric Co.
Gator Rock Bit Inc.
GDS Associates
GE Industrial Systems
Genics Inc.
Geotek Inc.
Gillette Generators
Granger Telecom
Hall's Safety Equipment Corp.
Hastings Hot Line Tools
HDW Electronics
Hi-Line Engineering
The Homac Companies
Howard Industries Inc.
Hubbell Power Systems
Hughes Brothers Inc.
The Hughes Group
Hunt Technologies Inc.
iBank, LLC
ICM Corp.
2003 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference & Exposition
Immediate Response Spill Technologies, LLC
Innovative Utility Products
International Utility Structures Inc.
Itron
J&B Software
JCMB Technology Inc.
Joslyn Hi-Voltage/Fisher Pierce
Kaddas Enterprises Inc.
Katolight Corp.
Kershaw Manufacturing
Laminated Wood Systems Inc.
Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr (Pty) Ltd., South Africa
Lawson Software
Lewis Manufacturing Co.
Logical Business Solutions Inc.
LiveData Inc.
LTA Software Solutions Inc.
Manheim Auctions Government Services Inc.
Map Communications Inc.
Marathon Water Heaters
MarKi Industries
Mastec Energy Services
Mauell Corp.
McFarland Cascade
Midland Radio
Milsoft Integrated Solutions
MiniMax Software Corp.
MultiPlan Inc.
Multispeak Initiative
NASCO Industries Inc.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association - NRECA
Nationwide Utility Pole & Supply Inc.
NERTEC Design Inc.
NISC
North American Wood Pole Coalition
Northrop Grumman Information Technology
NRTC
Okonite Co., The
Omega Systems
On Site Ram Environmental
Osmose Inc.
Ozark Electric Cooperative
PACCAP
Pattco Printer Systems
Patterson & Dewar Engineers
Pike Electric Inc.
Pole + Management
PORCHE Systems Inc.
Power Delivery Associates (PDA)
Power Quality Systems
Preformed Line Products
Professional Computer Systems
PSG Enterprises Inc.
QEI Inc.
Radius Radio Network Technology
Red Simpson Inc.
The Renfroe Collection of Fine Art
Ripley Co.
Roanoke Energy Resources Inc.
RPCI Inc.
Rural Electric Utilities Underwriting Managers
Salisbury
Schlumberger Electricity Inc.
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc.
SD Myers Inc.
SensorLink Corp.
Service Concepts
Shell Trading/Coral Energy
Sherman & Reilly Inc.
Siemens PT&D
Solar Turbines Incorporated (a Caterpillar Co.)
Solomon Corp.
Southeastern Data Cooperative
Southeastern Reprographics Inc. (SRI)
Southwire Co.
Spirit Business Solutions
STARcorp
Statewide Editors Association
Steffes Corp.
Stratos VSAT Inc.
Stuart C. Irby Co.
SunGard Mailing Services
Survalent Technology Corp.
T&R Service Co.
Tantalus Systems Corp.
Terex Telelect
Thomas & Betts/Elastimold
3M
Timmons Inc.
Tobin International Ltd.
Touchstone Energy
Townsend Tree Service Co. Inc.
Trachte Inc.
Transmission & Distribution World
Transworld Network Corp.
Triple Crown Products Inc.
Tru-Check Inc.
TVD Inc.
TWACS by DCSI
Twenty First Century Communications
United Utility Supply
USAT
Uticom Systems Inc.
Utilco
Utility Automation Integrators
Utility Equipment Leasing Corp.
VA Tech Ferranti-Packard Transformers
Vaisala-GAI (formerly Global Atmospherics)
Vaughn Manufacturing Corp.
The VON Corp.
Waukesha Electric Systems
WeatherTAP.com
WESCO Distribution Inc.
W.J. Whatley
Wilson Bohannan Padlock Co.
Wire Dynamix
W.I.R.E. Services/Manitoba Hydro
Wood Quality Control Inc.
World Wireless Communications
Zemar Inc.